Endless track for vehicles



Feb. 23," 1943.

H. S. BROADWATER ENDLESS TRACK FOR VEHICLES original Filed March '7,1940 Patented Feb. 23, 1943 ENDLESS TRACK FOR VEHICLES Henry S.Broadwater, Ridgefield, Conn; Victoria Tenger, executrix of Henry S.Broadwatcr, deceased, assignor to Victoria, Tenger, Ridgefield,

Conn.

Original application March 7, 1940, Serial No. 322,663. Divided and thisapplication January 31, 1941, Serial No. 376,754

Claims.

This invention relates to an endless track for vehicles, andparticularly a track which is adapted to support and propel a vehicleupon snow of any degree of softness as well as on icy or clear roads.This is a division of my copending application Serial No. 322,663, filedMarch 7, 1940.

An object of the invention is to provide such a track which will ensureperfect traction on all types of snow surfaces.

Another object is to provide a track which will not become clogged withsnow.

A further object is to provide a track which can readily be adapted foruse on various conventional types of motor vehicles in order to convertsuch vehicles for efiicient operation over snow.

Another object of the invention is to provide certain improvements inthe form, construction, arrangement and materials of the several partswhereby the above named and other objects may effectively be attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents a plan view of part ofthe endless track;

Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken along the line IIII of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 represents a transverse vertical section taken along the lineIII-III of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a detail plan view of a part of the track chain withtread elements secured thereto;

Fig. 5 represents a vertical section taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4,and

Fig. 6 represents a transverse vertical section taken along the lineVI-VI of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the endless track comprises preferably a pairof chains l which may conveniently be standard conveyor chains of theroller type with integrally formed attaching plates 2. For the bestresults over various types of surfaces it is desirable to use acombination of different tread members, and the arrangement shown hereinhas proved to be particularly effective. Alternating tread members areformed simply of flat aluminum plates 3 bolted or riveted to theattaching plates 2; and other tread members comprise channels 4, alsobolted or riveted to the attaching plates 2, which channels form asupport for rubber tread blocks 5, the latter being retained within thechannels by bolts or rivets 6. The rubber tread blocks are arranged toproject a substantial distance beyond the channels, as shown in Figs. 2and 5. While the alternation of rubber and aluminum tread members willgive excellent results either on snow or on a clear road, it isdesirable to provide also the T-shaped aluminum bars 1 (havingsaw-toothed or plain edges) at intervals which may be, for instance,every twenty links of the chain, to ensure adequate traction on any icysurfaces which may be encountered. In any event, the spacing of the barsI should be such that one or more of the bars will always be in groundengaging position when the track is mounted on a plurality of wheels orrolls including a driving wheel 8 and idle wheels or rolls, not shown,in accordance with familiar practice. The T-bars l are bolted or rivetedto the supporting plates 2 as in the case of the plates 3 and channels4.

It has been found that snow will not readily adhere to rubber or toaluminum, and the use of these materials to make up all or the greaterpart of the driving tread is of importance since it eliminates thepossibility of the mechanism becoming clogged or caked with snow. Thealternation of high and low tread members gives a castellated profilewhich ensures perfect traction on all kinds of snow surfaces, and anytendency of the snow to become caked on the belt between the rubbertread blocks is eliminated not only by the use of the non-cloggingmaterials, rubber and aluminum, but also by the fact that the beltbreaks as it passes around the sprocket wheel 8, thus releasing any cakeof snow or ice which might have been picked up.

It will be appreciated that the endless track elements just describedmay be mounted for use on the rear axle of an automobile Withoutsubstantial modification except to replace the automobile wheels withsprocket wheels 8, so that this arrangement is particularly convenientin cases where it is desired to convert an automobile for efiicientoperation on snow.

Referring to the operation of a vehicle equipped with such a track onicy or a cleared road, it will be observed that the proportion of metalbearing on the ground compared to the total rubber surface is very muchless than the proportion of ordinary antiskid chains on an automobiletire, so that a cleared road will not be damaged by the operation of thevehicle, while the bars I provide a much firmer grip on ice than ispossible with ordinary chains.

Wherever the material aluminum is mentioned herein it will be understoodthat alloys thereof such as duralumin and the like are intended to beincluded; and the word rubber is also intended to include syntheticrubber-like materials having the desirable properties referred toherein, and to refer to a materialapproximating tire tread stock in itsphysical and mechanical characteristics.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in theconstruction, form and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention and hence I do not intend to Iclaim is:

1. An endless track for vehicles comprising,

flat aluminum tread members arranged altr V nately, and high metal treadmembers arranged at intervals such that at least one metal tread memberis in contact with the ground at any given position of the track. r

2. An endless track for vehicles comprising, a plurality of endlesschains, at least one or which is adapted for positive engagement with adrivwheel, transverse elements seat-eta to earg s tfiaihg links of each"1h, alternating merits includingrigi'd 'ch'an els and tread "members ofr'snient rubber 's'iipp'orted ther in, and "intervening alternating -illow flat tread members of aluminum.

be limited to the particular em bodiment herein shown and described, butWhat a 3. A track in accordance with claim 2 in which a minor proportionof said high tread members are replaced by high tread members providedwith a relatively sharp metallic edge extending in a directiontransverse to the length of the t- I 4. An endless track a pair ofendless chains, at least one of which is adapted for positive engagementwith a driving wheel,- transverse metallic elements secured tocorresponding links of each chain at points i'pacd 'sulfstantialdistance inward from the ends a: said elements, alternating elementsconsisting of channels opening outwardly with respect to the spaceenclosed within the chains, Ii'ent rubber tread members filling and pict g out ofSaid channels, and intervening alternating elementsconsisting of flat aluminum plates constituting low tread members.

5. A track in accordance with claim 4 in which a minor propqrnoaersarahigh 't-read members are replaced by metallic "enters or substantiallythe same hi ha 'g aleistively sharp metallic edge as in a directiontransverse to :tlj e length of the'b lt; W

HENRY s. BROADWATER for vehicles comprising,

